Well hello there cocktail fans. Hope you all had a wonderful Burns Night (apostrophe?)! In celebration, for #MasterofCocktails on Sunday we made a De La Louisiane recipe, which is a... erm... a cocktail with American Whiskey.

Should've thought that one through a bit better really, eh?

Nevertheless - this really is a good 'un. It's sort of a halfway house between a Manhattan and a Vieux Carre.

Before we get started, yes, we know. We’re banging on about Christmas and it’s not even Halloween yet. Most of us at MoM Towers are only just putting the finishing touches to our costumes - this year I’m changing it up from my usual Beastie Boys ‘Sabotage’ cop and going as a horse with Jake. He’s kindly volunteered to be the back half (but he doesn't know that yet).

However, the Drinks by the Dram Christmas Crackers were recently put up for pre-order and now we can’t but feel all Christmassy and whatnot. Just look at these handsome little rascals! Don’t expect to find any tiny rulers, giant plastic paper-clips or ridiculously easy puzzles here, oh no. These Christmas Crackers are filled with award-winning spirits and liqueurs!

On 16th March five top London bartenders faced off in a fantastic cask-aged gin cocktail competition, which may also have been the best named event of all time!

Maverick Drinks had armed each bartender with a different gin that had been aged or rested in casks, all from their awesome portfolio. Following a preview tasting where this fascinating crossover category was discussed, it was time for the #ginsin main event held at Megaro Bar. The winner would be chosen by 7 'tasters' (they're the fun version of judges) and would subsequently win the opportunity to create their very own cask-aged gin, which will have their name and even their face on it if they really want. (The latter, it was said at the time, may actually depend on who wins...) There should also soon be a Gin, Sin & 5 Soaking Barrels Tasting Set from Drinks by the Dram we hear, so you'll be able to sample all of these eminently mixable aged gins for yourself...

This week's #MasterofCocktails recipe is an absolutely stunning, christmassy twist on one of the true classics. The Vieux Carré dates back to the 1930s, but as we're creeping ever closer to Christmas 2013, here's a version using the latest festive ingredient from Professor Cornelius Ampleforth.

Many thanks go to Mark Gill (@thecocktailgeek) for the inspiration behind this one – a top suggestion that's very much appreciated.

In case you're sick of Christmas cocktails, apart from the fact that we pity you, there's also some good news – next week we're doing something totally different and you can find all the ingredients you'll need for that one at the bottom.

Blimey, it’s been pretty busy around here lately! Jumping crocodiles, there’s been a lot to do! Most of it has something to with some little celebration towards the end of the month or something...

Just kidding, I can’t pretend to not be excited about Santa! I’m literally bursting with festive excitement! You see, I bloody love Christmas, me! The decorations, the music, all the wrapped up pressies and, of course, the Die Hard movies.

With plans to make Christmas 2013 closely resemble a night out with Charles Bukowski during his downtime, I’ve been thinking hard about what booze I want. Historically, I would have written to Santa Claus, but I recently read a thought-provoking essay by biologist Dickie Dawkins and now no longer believe in his existence. This, then, is an open letter to anyone who knows me and wants to get me the boozes.

Sunday was the first day of advent, and as literally thousands of giddy adults cracked open the first window of their Drinks by the Dram Advent Calendars I wanted to make another grown-up version of a childhood favourite to go along with them.

So, we made a Bourbon Milkshake! People like milkshakes. That’s proven. This one’s incredibly straight-forward and absolutely delicious. Before we get started though, it would be crazy of me to mention the Advent Calendars without sharing this brilliant video with you, released today! See how many people you can recognise. It even includes an incredibly handsome man all tucked up in bed with some kind of wintery weather-induced malady...

It’s not often I manage to crowbar distillery visits into trips back to my hometown, near Washington, DC. Last December though, I was invited to go and check out Smooth Ambler Distillery in Maxwelton, WV, only about 4 hours’ drive away.

I put the offer out to a group of friends I’ve known for the better part of 15+ years: Would you like to go down to one of the finest distilleries in the country and try all of their delicious whiskey and gin?